Pronycticebus Temporal range: Middle Late Eocene | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
Family: | † Notharctidae |
Subfamily: | † Cercamoniinae |
Genus: | † Pronycticebus G. Grandidier, 1904 |
Type species | |
†Pronycticebus gaudryi G. Grandidier, 1904 | |
Species | |
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Pronycticebus was a genus of adapiformes primates that lived during the middle to middle late Eocene. It is represented by two species, Pronycticebus gaudryi and Pronycticebus neglectus, [1] of which an almost complete specimen was found in Germany, [2] and the Quercy Phosphorites Formation of France.
Pronycticebus neglectus possessed what appears to be a grooming claw on the second digit of each foot like modern strepsirhines (Fleagle, 1999) and had a dental formula of 2:1:4:3. Pronycticebus neglectus has a petrosal bulla and a postorbital bar. Pronycticebus neglectus may have been a nocturnal or a crepuscular species, which is suggested by a relatively large orbital size. Pronycticebus neglectus has a relatively large baculum for a species of its size, which had an average body mass of 825 grams.[ citation needed ]
Pronycticebus neglectus lived in Europe. [2]
Based upon limb morphology, Pronycticebus neglectus moved by quadrupedalism, leaping, and climbing. This species is less of a leaper than the notharctines and used slow quadrupedalism less than the adapines. [3]
Notharctus is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in North America and Europe during the late to middle Eocene.
Smilodectes is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in North America during the middle Eocene. It possesses a post-orbital bar and grasping thumbs and toes. Smilodectes has a small cranium size and the foramen magnum was located at the back of the skull, on the occipital bone.
Notharctinae is an extinct subfamily of primates that were common in North America during the early and middle Eocene. The six genera that make up the group contain species that are among the most primitive of the adapiform group, which is one of the most primitive groups of primates. The evolutionary history of this subfamily has been comparatively well documented and has been used to argue for evolutionary gradualism. Though it is generally accepted that adapiforms gave rise to modern day lemurs and lorises, it is not currently known which branch of Adapiformes these living species are most closely related to. Notharctines became extinct in the middle Eocene, most likely because of a combination of factors including climatic change and competition with other North American primates.
Hesperolemur is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in the middle Eocene of southern California. It is an immigrant taxa which appears to be most closely related to the earlier European forms of Cantius. It was approximately 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb) in weight and was the last surviving notharctine species, probably because of its position in the refugia that existed in southern California during the climate deterioration at the end of the middle Eocene. There are no later taxa that appear to have derived from Hesperolemur.
Pelycodus is an extinct genus of adapiform primate that lived during the early Eocene (Wasatchian) period in Europe and North America, particularly Wyoming and New Mexico. It is very closely related to Cantius and may even be its subgenus. It may also have given rise to the Middle Eocene Uintan primate Hesperolemur, although this is controversial. From mass estimates based on the first molar, the two species, P. jarrovii and P. danielsae, weighed 4.5 kg and 6.3 kg respectively and were frugivores with an arboreal, quadrupedal locomotion.
Adapoides is a genus of adapiform primate dating to the Middle Eocene in Asia. It is represented by one species, Adapoides troglodytes.
Europolemur is a genus of adapiform primates that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.
Anchomomys is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe and Africa during the middle Eocene.
Buxella is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.
Panobius is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Asia during the early or middle Eocene.
Periconodon is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in western Europe during the early middle Eocene.
Barnesia is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.
Caenopithecus is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene.
Hoanghoniinae is a subfamily of adapiform primate that lived in Asia during the middle to late Eocene.
Sivaladapis is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Asia during the middle Miocene.
Hoanghonius is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Asia during the middle Eocene.
Rencunius is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Asia during the late middle Eocene. It includes the species Rencunius zhoui.
Omanodon is a genus of primate related to lemuriforms that lived in Oman during the early Oligocene.
Shizarodon is a genus of primate related to lemuriforms that lived in Oman during the early Oligocene.
Leptadapis is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the middle Eocene. Fossils of the genus have been found in the Escanilla Formation of Spain and Egerkingen in Switzerland.